a  h 


Kf^Kif^9! 


N7i 


i 


- 


/    " 


.  i  * 


\ 


BIOLOGY 
LIBRARY 


Land  and  Fresh  Water  Shells 


— OF — 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY, 


— WITH  A — 


Supplemental  List  of  New  York  Species, 


PREPARED  BY 


W.  M.  BEAUCHAMP, 
BALDWINSVILLE,  N.  Y. 


BALDWINS VILLE,  N.  Y.: 

GAZETTE  AND  FARMERS*  JOURNAL  STEAM  PRINT. 
1886. 


LIBRARY 


Land  and  Fresh 


—  OF— 

ONONDAGA  COUNTY  AND  NW70RK  STATE? 


BY   KEY.   W.   M.   BEAUCHAMP. 


Mollusca  of  Onondaga. 

In  these  notes  on  Onondaga  shells  collected  by  me,  sub- 
generic  names  are  omitted,  and  Dr.  Lewis'  general  system 
followed. 

Helicodiscus  lineatns.  —  Morse.  —  Small,  flat,  yellowish 
green,  with  revolving  lines.  Wet  places,  under 
wood. 

Macrocyclis  concava. — Say.—  Medium,  greenish  white,  com- 
mon, carnivorous. 

Slugs  have  short  shields  instead  of  shells,  and  the  follow- 
ing are  found  in  gardens  and  fields.     Prolific  and  active- 
Li  max  agrestis. — L. — Grey  slug,  breathing  hole  large, 
flavus.—  L. — Larger  and  brownish, 
campestris. — Binney. — Smaller,  blackish  and  slender. 
The  following  shells  have  simple  lips  and  wide  umbilicus. 
Helix  alternata. — Say. — Alternate  spots  of  red,  common, 
perspective, — Say. — Small,   saucer-shaped,    reddish. 
Dead  wood. 

striatella. — Antli. — Smaller,  brown,  with  sharp  ribs. 
Stones. 

The  following  have  thick  lips  when  mature,  mostly  with 
teeth. 

Helix  lab vrinthica. — Say. — Small,  conical,  rare.  Onondaga 
Hill, 

monodon. — Rackett. — Small,  brown,  downy,  tooth- 
linear.  I  have  one  with  two  parallel  teeth.  Also 
variety  fraterna. 

palliata. — Say. — Larger,  brown,  hairy,  several  teeth, 
rarer. 

tridentata. —  Say. —  Smaller,      reddish,      3-toothed, 
smooth,  common. 


M90520 


Helix  albolabris.  —  Say.  —  Large,    imperf  orate,     lip    broad, 
common.     Dentate  variety  rarer,  with  a  small  tooth 


iftyroides.  --$«£/.  —  Large,  perforate,  tooth  on  pillar 
Jip--  :.     :   ,\.  *\ 

,  flattened,  perforate,  teeth 


small.     Ravines. 

pulchella.  —  Muller.  —  Wide   mouth,    minute,    white. 
Low  lands. 

The  following  three  genera  are  of  small  cylindric  shells, 
and  except  the  first,  difficult  to  find.     Mostly  with  teeth. 
Cionella  subcylindrica.  —  L.  —  Brown,  shining.    Gardens  and 

lowlands.     Have  found  many  hid  in  pi  urn  -stones  in 

the  fall.     Larger  than  the  following. 
Pupa  pentodon.  —  Say.  —  Mouth   with  five   teeth,    whitish, 

rare. 

contracta.  —  Say.  —  Mouth  contracted,  toothed,  white, 

frequent. 

corticaria.  —  Say.—  Slender,    glassy.    Onondaga   and 

Skaneateles. 
Vertigo  ovata.  —  Say.  —  Ovate,  dark  chest  nut,  common.   Wet- 

grounds. 

ventricosa.  —  Morse.  —  Similar,    smaller,    rare.      Split 

Rock. 

Bollesiana.  —  Morse.  —  Ovate,  almost  translucent.  Split 

Rock. 

Gouldii.  —  Binney.  —  Ovate,    light    chestnut,       Split 

Rock, 

simplex.  —  Say.  —  Toothless,  chestnut.     Split  Rock. 
The  Succineas,  or  Amber  Shells,  are  almost  amphibious, 
in  wet  places  and  have  pellucid  shells  with  large  apertures. 
^Succinea  ovalis.  —  Gould.  —  Oval,  colorless  to  orange,   com- 

mon. 

avara.—  Say.  —  Shorter,  stouter,  with  bristles.  Seneca 

river. 

obliqua.  —  Say.  —  Large,  yellow,very  oblique,  common. 

Totteniana.  —  Lea.  —  Smaller  and  greener,  less  com- 

mon. 

The  following  snails  have  thin  lips  and  shells. 
IZonites  fuliginosus.  —  Grif.  —  Large,  brown,  polished,  com- 

mon. 

inornatus.  —  Say.  —  Similar,     smaller     and     lighter. 

Rocky  woods. 


Zonites  intertextus.—  Say. — Conical,  angulated,  reddish,  me- 
dium, common. 

ligerus.— Say. — Similar,  yellowish,  polished.     Very 
rare. 

nitidus. — Midler. — Amber  hue,  small,  shining.    Low 
places. 

arboreus. — Say. — Less  polished  and  expanded,  com- 
mon. 

viridulus. — Menke. — Small,  thin,  flat,  brown,  rare, 
minusculus. — Binney. — Minute, white,  rare, 
limatulus. —  Ward. — Small,  thin,  flat,  whitish,  rare, 
indentatus. — Say. — Small,  flat,  whitish,  shining,  rare, 
multidentatus. — Binney. — A  beautiful  minute  red- 
dish shell,  with  white  teeth  showing  through.  Rare, 
fulvus. —  Drap. — Smaller,  conical,  tawny,  not  abun- 
dant. 

Tebennophorus    Carolinensis. — Bosc. — Our    largest     slug. 
Woods, 
dorsalis. — Binney. — Small,  dark,  slender.      Woods. 

Carychium  exiguum. — Say. — A  minute,  white,  thread-like 
shell.  Low  places. 

The  water  snails  following  are  of  several  genera,  the  pul- 
monates,  without  an  operculum,  coming  flrst. 

Limnaea  stagnalis. — L. — Two  inches  long,  spire  slender, 
mouth  large,  light  tawny  to  reddish.  Once 
common  in  Onondaga  and  Cross  Lakes  ;  now  found 
mostly  in  Oneida  lake. 

columella. — Say. — Yellow,  delicate,  resembling  Suc- 
cinea.     On  water  lily  leaves  in  Seneca  river,  rare, 
elodes.—  Say. — Fragile,  brown,    often  faceted,  com- 
mon. 

umbrosa. — Say. — Large,    slender,    aperture   brown. 
Wet  woods. 

desidiosa, — £ay.-^Small,  slender,  whorls  angnlated, 

common. 

emarginata. — Say. — Inflated,  solid,  mouth  large  and 

angular,  common  in  lakes.     A  white  variety  in  Cross 

lake. 

catascopium. — Say. — Similar,  longer. 

caperata. — Say. — Yellowish,   with  revolving  striae, 

common. 

umbilicata.— Adams. — Differs  little  from  the  last. 


Limnaea  pallida. — Adams. — A  beautiful  white  shell  in 
Onbndaga  and  Cross  lakes,  where  most  shells  are 
light  colored. 

hurailis. — Say. — Brown,  common,  our  smallest  local 
species. 

The  translucent  shining  shells  of  the  following  two  gene- 
ra, revolve  in  the  opposite  way  to  most  others. 

Physa  ancillaria, — So.y. — Large,  inflated,  spire  depressed. 
Skaneateles. 

heterostropha. — Say. — Less  inflated  and  depressed, 
common,  thinner. 

Niagarensis. — Lea. — Similar,  smaller,  colorless,  rare. 
Onondaga  lake. 

gyrina. — Say.— Cylindric,  yellowish,  aperture  long. 
Forest  ponds.  There  are  several  varieties,  one  like 
P,  Hildrethiana. 

Bulinus  hypnorum. — L. — Thin,  slender,  brown,  shining. 
Wet  wroods. 

The  following  two  genera  are  flat  orbicular  shells  of  the 
Planorbis  family,  feeding  on  decaying  vegetation  in  still 
waters. 
Planorbis     campanulatus.  —Say.  —  Bell-shaped     aperture, 

common. 

trivolvis. — Say. — Our  largest  species,  common. 

lentus. — Say. — Similar,  more  depressed,  rarer. 

bicarinatus. — Say. — Whorls  sharp  above  and  below? 

common, 

exacutns_ — Say.  —  Small,  thin,  margin  acute,  com- 
mon. Swamps. 

dilatatus.—  Gould. — Small,  perforation  deep.  Doubt- 
ful identification. 

deilectus. — Say. — Small,    mouth    depressed.       Wet 

woods. 

albus. — Mall.—  Thin,  yellow,  hairy,  common. 

parvus. — Say. — Corneous,    common.      Oar  smallest 

species.. 
Segrrientina  armigera. — Say. — Olive,  aperture  with  teeth. 

Wet  woods. 

The  next  genus  is  of  the  small  pyramidal   fresh   water 
limpets,  clriging  to  stones  and  plants.     Not  abundant. 

Ancylus  rivularis.— Say. — Seneca  river,  rare. 

tardus. — /Stey. --Olive,  on  stones  in  rivers. 


Ancylus  parallelus. — Hald. — Dark,  narrow,  more  common. 

On  plants. 

The  remaining  fresh  water  snails  close  the  aperture  with 
a  horny  door,  or  operculum,  attached  to  the  snail. 
Valvata  tricarinata. — Say. — Small,   whitish,    whorls    with 
sharp  keels,    common.     Ecarinate   varieties   in   On- 
ondaga  lake. 

sine-era, — Say. — Brown,  with  ribs,  no  keels,  habits 
different  from  the  last.  Marshy  spots  on  Seneca 
river,  rare. 

The  Melanthos  are  green  or  greenish,  large,  solid,  varia- 
ble, viviparous,   found  in   all  waters  but   Onondaga  and 
Cross  lakes.     Muddy  bottoms    Approaching  other  species. 
Melantho  decisus. — Say. — Green,  worn  at  apex,  common, 
integer. — /Stoy.— Similar,   longer  and    more    perfect, 
rarer. 

rufus. — Hald. — Shorter,  grayer,  polished,  rosy  with- 
in. Found  only  in  canals  and  at  Baldwinsville. 
Abounds  in  canal. 

Lioplax  subcarinatus. — Say. — Smallei>  more  expanded, and 
the  six  whorls  more  rounded  than  the  last.  But  one 
found,  not  typical.  Canal;  found  also  in  the  Hudson. 
Bythinia  tentaculata. — L. — An  introduced  European  shell 
found  by  me  at  Oswego  in  1879,  now  abundant  at 
Syracuse.  Resembles  Melantho,  but  is  small,  yel- 
lowish, grey  or  red. 

Bythinella  obtusa. — M.  Tand. — Resembles  Papa,  Erie  ca- 
nal, rare. 
Gilia  nltilis.—Lea.  -Small,    green,    orbicular.      Abundant 

in  canals. 
Somatogyrus  isogonus. — *Say. — Similar,  rare. 

The  genus  Amnicola  contains  minute  shells  like  the  Me- 
lantho, but  perforate.     Abundant  in  all  waters  on  plants. 
Amnicola    Sayana. — Antli.  —Elevated,     six    whorls,   rare. 
Erie  canal. 

Cincinnatiensis. — AntTi. — Rather  slender,  five  whorls. 
Canal. 

orbiculata. — Lea. — Depressed,  orbicular, 
porata. — $ay. — Perforated,  round,  common, 
pallida. — Hald. — Paler  and  slender,  rarer.    Ponds, 
limosa. — Say. — Small,  bulbous,  common, 
lustrica. — Say. — Small,  very  slender,  rarer, 
grana. — Say — Very  small.     Seneca  river. 


6 

The  next  two  genera  are  of  slender  species  here,  not 
found  south  of  the  canal  in  this  county,  the  first  being  here 
confined  to  the  Erie  canal.  The  snails  feed  mainly  on  the 
fresh  water  algae  growing  on  stones  and  logs.  They  are 
active  quite  late,  as  I  collected  Goniobasis  Dec.  1,  1884,  at 
Baldwinsville. 
Pleurocera  subulare. — Lea,. — -A  beautiful  elevated  shell, 

apex  grooved,  aperture  auger-like,  somewhat  rare. 

intensum. — Lea. — Similar,  intense  dark  and  yellow\ 

pallidum. — Lea. — Similar,  color  pale. 
Goniobasis  livescens. — MenJce. — Bulbous,    purple    within. 

A  yellow  variety. 

depygis. — Say. — Yellowish,  often  with  dull  red  lines. 

Haldemani. —  Try  on. — Slender,  rare.     Erie  canal. 

Yirginica — GmeL— Large,  beautiful,  variable,  smooth 

or  striate,  banded  or  plain,  thin  or  thick.     Canal  and 

Seneca  river. 

gemma. — DeKay. — Variety  of  the  last. 
The  next  two  genera  are  of  small  bivalve  shells,  the  larg- 
est not  an  inch  long.     Some  living  in   wet  leaves,    others 
burrowing  in  still  or  rapid  waters.     They  have   cardinal 
teeth  in  the  center  and  linear  teeth  at  the  ends  of  the  hinge 
margin. 
Sphaerium  simile. — Say. — The  largest.     Brown,  inflated. 

fabale. — Prime. — Similar,  brown,  compressed,  hinge 

margin  curved,  rare. 

striatinum. — Lam. — Compressed,  smoother,  rare. 

occidentale. — Prime. — Oval,    yellow,    shining,    com- 
mon.    In  wet  woods. 

partumeium. — Say. — White,  angular,  inflated,  thin. 

truncatum. — Linsley. — Similar,  smaller,  compressed. 

transversum. — Say. — Long,  thin,  large.     Erie  canal. 

secure. — Prime. — Small,  rhombic,  rare.     Rivers. 

solidulum. — Prime. — Yellow  and  brown, 

stamineum. — Conrad. — Inflated,  yellow. 
The  Pisidiums  are  smaller  and  more  inequilateral. 
Pisidium  compressum. — Prime. — Compressed,  beaks  raised. 

variabile. — Prime. — Ovate,  thick,  yellow,  polished. 

abditum. — Hold. — Oval,  yellow,  smooth,  rare. 

Noveboracense. — Prime. — Oval,  inflated,  thin,  rare. 

Yirginicum. — Bourg. — Large,  thick,  brown,  rare. 

ferrugineum. — Prime. — Globose,  beaks  raised,  rusty. 


The  following  three  genera  are  fresh  water  clams  or  mus- 
sels. Unio  has  cardinal  and  lateral  teeth;  Margaritana, 
cardinal  teeth;  Anodonta  is  toothless.  All  crawl  and  bur- 
row with  the  long  foot,  and  when  thrown  ashore  by  waves 
at  Onondaga  lake,  I  have  seen  them  raise  themselves  and 
get  back  to  the  water. 
Unio  alatus. — Say. — Brown,  winged,  variable. 

cariosus. — Say. — Yellowish,  inflated,  rare.     Oswego 

river. 

complanatus. — Sol. — The  common  flat  species. 

gracilis. — Barnes. — Resemble  alatus,  lighter,  thinner. 

iris. — Lea. — Resembles  IT.  Novi-Eboraci.     Canal. 

Liebii. — Lea. — A  curious  dead  shell  from  Onondaga 

lake,  thus  identified  by  Dr.  Newcomb.     Rare. 

ligamentinus. — Lam. — Coarse,     oval,    brown,    rare. 

Cross  lake. 

luteolus. — Lam.— Ova\,  teeth  compressed,  variable. 

It  is  often  difficult  to  distinguish  this  shell  from  IT. 

radiatus. 

Novi-Eboraci. — Lea. — Small,     yellow,      interrupted 

rays. 

occidens. — Lea. — Large,    ovate,    polished.       Seneca 

river. 

parvus. — Barnes. — Small,  cylindric.     Erie  canal. 

pressus. — Lea. — Green,  compressed,  winged.    Seneca 

river. 

radiatus. — Lam. — Oval,  variable,  teeth  erect, common. 

rectus. — Lam. — Long,  black.     Rifts  of  rivers. 

rosaceus. — DeKay. — Like     radiatus     and     luteolus. 

Rosy  within.     Rare. 

rubiginosus. — Lea. — Reddish,  heavy,  angular.     Erie 

canal. 

siliquoideus. — Barnes. — Polished,  inflated. 

Tappanianus. — Lea. — Small,  compressed.    Canal  and 

Seneca  river. 

undulatus. — Barnes. — Large,   brown,  plicate,  quad- 
rate.   Canal,  rare. 

ventricosus. — Barnes. — Large,  oval,  inflated.   Seneca 
river. 

Margaritana  marginata. — Say. — Inflated,  truncated,    com- 
mon. 

rugosa. — Barnes. — Compressed,    one  end    wrinkled. 
Rivers  and  canals.     Occurs  in  Onondaga  lake. 


undulata  — Say. — Inflated,  stout,  rare.     Canal. 

margaritif era  — L. — Reported  from  Oneida  lake. 
Anodonta  Benedictii. — Lea. — Large,   inflated,  green,  thin. 

decora. — Lea. — Oval,  green.     Canal. 

edentula. — Say. — Thick,  brown,  beaks  undulated. 

Ferussaciana. — Lea.  —  Cylindric,  inflated.      Canal. 

Footiana. — Lea. — Angular,  inflated,  rare. 

fluviatilis. — Dill. — Thin,  green,  variable,  common. 

fragilis. — Lam. — Thin,  inflated,  fine.     Lakes. 

imbecillis. — Say. — Cylindric,  hinge  margin  straight. 

lacustris. — Lea. — Thin,  brown.     Lakes. 

Lewisii. — Lea. — Angular,  variable,  often  large. 

pavonia. — Lea.—  Thick,  compressed.     Canal. 

Pepiniana, — Lea.— Thin,       compressed,       greenish. 

Lakes. 

salmonia. — Lea. — Compressed,  orange  within  beaks. 

subcylindracea. — Lea. — Small,  cylindric,  common. 

Simpsoniana. — Lea. — Thick,       compressed,       rare. 

Beaver  Lake. 

undulata. — Say. — Like  edentnla,  compressed,  green. 

Williamsii. — Lea.  —  Angular,    nacre  brilliant,    rare. 

Seneca  river. 

Of  the  foregoing  but  ten  species  have  been  found  exclu- 
sively south  of  the  canal,  while  no  land  species  are  peculiar 
to  the  northern  towns.  In  water  species  the  case  is  differ- 
ent, for  nearly  seventy  belong  exclusively  to  the  canal  and 
northern  waters,  many  reaching  us  by  the  canals. 

Other  shells  are  likely  to  occur  in  Onondaga  county, 
among  which  are  the  following  : 

Helix  dentifera. — Binney. — Medium,  depressed,  toothed. 
Punctum  minutissimum. — Lea. — Minute,  subglobose. 
Zonites  cellarius. — Muller. — Glassy,  greenish. 
Sphaerium  rhomboideum. — Say. — The  name  describes  this. 
Unio  gibbosus. — Barnes. — Thick,  compressed,  gibbous. 
Unio  nasutus. — Say.—  Smooth,  long. 


Land  and  Fresh  W'ater  Mollusks  of 
Eastern  and  Southern  New  York. 

Vitrina  limpida.  —  G$uld. — Small,  wide  aperture. 

Helix  hirsuta.—  Say. — Like  H.  monodon,  lip  cleft. 

hortensis. — Muller. — Yellow  and  red.     Long  Island, 
nemoralis. — L. — Apartare  black.      Long  Island, 
harpa.— Say. — Small,  conical,  ribbed,  fragile.  Found 
by  me  at  the  Thousand  Islands,  in  1883. 

Limax  maximus. — L. — Introduced.     Mushroom  beds. 

Pupa  fallax. — Say. — Long,  tapering,  smooth,  brownish. 

armifera. — Say. — Cylindric,  smooth,  aperture  white, 
rupicola. — Say. — Small,  elongated,  brownish, 
muscorum. — L. — Obtuse,  dark  chestnut. 

Vertigo  milium. — Gould. — Very  minute,  dark  amber. 

Succinea  aurea. — Lea. — Amber,  oval.     Staten  Island. 

Arion  fusciis.—  Mailer. — Ashy,  a  dorsal  line. 

Zonites  exiguus. — Stimpson. — Minute,  green. 

ferreus. — Morse. — Minute,  light  steel  gray, 
suppressus. — Say. — Depressed,  thin,  teeth  internal, 

Alexia  myosotis.—  Drap. — Small,  elongate,  dark,  shining. 

Melampus  bidentatus. — Say. — Ovate,  toothed,  banded. 

Limnsea  ampla.—  MlgJiels. — Large  inflated,  aperture  wide, 
megasoma. — Say. — Large,  aperture  chestnut, 
gracilis. — Jay. — Very  slender.     L.  Champlain. 
galbana. — Say. — Semi-fossil  in  calcareous  ttffa. 

Ancylus  calcarius. — De  Kay. — Large,  conic,  calcareous. 

fuscus. — Adams. — Epidermis  brown,   shell  translu- 
cent. 

Yivipara  contectoides. — Binney. — Green,four  brown  bands. 
Anculosa  carinata. — Brug. — Conic,  carinate.      Varieties. 
Sphserium  rosaceum. — Prime. — Rosy,  polished,  sma 

croceum .  — Lew  is.  — Small,  yellow. 

Vermontanum. — Prime. — Full,  oblique,  green. 
Pisidium  ventricosum. — Prime. — Small,  globose,  yellow. 
Unio  ochraceus. — Say. — Oval,  reddish. 
Anodonta  implicata. — Say. — Large,  inflated. 

excurvata. — De  Kay. — Large,  thick,  inflated. 


Mollusks  of  Wostorn  Now  York- 

Helix  solitaria. — Say. — Large,  two  or  three  bands. 

fallax. — Say- — Elevated,  resembles  H.  tridentata. 

exoleta. — Binney. — Large  tooth,    resembles   albola- 

bris. 

elevata.—  Say. — Dentate,  elevated,  resembles  albola- 

bris. 

profnnda. — Say. — Large,  yellowish,  banded. 

multilineata. — Say?. — Yellowish,  many  red  band& 
Limnaea  reflexa. — Say. — More  slender  than  L.  umbrosa. 
Bulinus  integer. — Hold. — Pointed,  oval,  yellowish. 
Unio  anodontoides. — Lea. — Yellow,  polished,  thick. 

Boydianus. — Lea. — Resembles  ochraceus. 

cocclneus.  —  Lea. — Brown,  roundish,  nacre  pink.. 

distans.  — Lea.  — Oval,  smooth. 

ellipsis.  — Lea. — Brown,  elliptical. 

elegans. — Lea. — Angular,  heavy,  green. 

fabalis. — Lea.  —  Ovate,  small,  black. 

heterodon. — Lea. — Small,     compressed,     teeth    re- 
versed, 

hippopseus.— Oval,  plicate. 

multiradiatus. — Lea. — Inflated,  many  green  rays. 

phaseolus. — Hild. — Dark,  compressed,  heavy, 

pnstnlatas. — Lea. — Quadrate,  nodulous. 

spatulatus. — Yellowish,  oblong  ovate. 

triangnlaris.  — Barnes. — Triangular,  green. 

trigonus. — Lea. — Triangular,  brown. 
Margaritana  complanata. — Barnes. — Winged,  compressed. 

Hildrethiana. — Lea. — Smooth,  small. 
Anodonta  feimginea. — Lea. — Oval. 

Tryonia. — Lea. — Oval,  small. 

Some  will  have  access  to  De  Kay's  Shells  of  New  YorkT 
and  may  be  glad  to  know  of  necessary  changes  in  nomen- 
clature. For  Arion  hortensis  read  A.  fuscus,  for  Vitrina 
pellucida,  V,  limpida  ;  in  several  places  substitute  Zonites 
for  Helix.  H.  electrina  is  Z.  viridulus.  H.  subglobosa  em- 
braces H.  hortensis  and  nemoralis  ;  H.  diodonta  is  H.Sayii; 
H.  minuta  is  H.  pulchella;  H.  chersinais  Z.  fulvus.  For  H. 


11 


lineata  read  Helicodiscus.  Several  are  not  given  by  De 
Kay,  and  he  mentions  some  not  found  in  New  York.  Pupa 
badia  is  mnscorum,  and  P.exigua  is  Carychium  exiguum. 
Change  P.  milium,  ovata,  and  simplex  to  Vertigo.  Suc- 
cinea  campestris  and  ovalis  to  S.  obliqua;  Bnlimus  lubricus 
equals  Cionella  subcylindrica,  Auricula  bidentatais  Mel- 
ampus  bidentatus,  and  A.  denticulata  is  Alexia  myosotis. 
Planorbis  megastoma  and  corpulentus  are  P.  trivolvis  ;  P. 
obliqmis  is  dellectus  ;  hirsutus  is  albus  ;  elevatus,  parvus  ; 
and  P.  armigerus  is  Segmentina.  Limnaea  fragilis  equals 
el  odes;  Linsleyi  is  humilis  ;  jugularis  and  appressa  are 
stagnalis.  Physa  cylindrica,  plieata  and  aurea  are  heteros- 
tropha  ;  elliptica  is  gyrina  ;  obesa  is  ancillaria  ;  and  glabra 
and  elongata  are  Bulinus  hypnorum.  Paludina  includes 
Melantho  and  Somatogyrus. "  Melania  Niagarensis  is  Gon- 
iobasis  livescens;  M.  bizonalis  is  G.  Virginica  ;  M.  subulare 
is  Pleurocera  subulare.  For  Anculotus  read  Anculosa.  A. 
trivittata  is  a  variety  of  A.  carinata.  Unio  compressus  is 
pressus.  Alasmodon  is  now  Margaritana,  and  A.  arcuata 
is  considered  M.  margaritifera;  M.  corrngatais  M.  marginata, 
and  A  Unadilla  is  Anodonta  edentula. 

De  Kay  also  reckons  Anodonta  plana  among  New  York 
shells.  Sphaerium  and  Pisidium  now  replace  Cyclas.  C. 
d ubia  and  edentula  are  S  striatinum,  and  C.  elegans  is  S. 
rhomboideum. 

Those  who  wish  fuller  notes  on  the  land  and  fresh  water 
shells,  except  the  Unionidae,  will  lind  the  cheap  publica- 
tions of  the  Smithsonian  Institute  useful,  but  there  is  no 
moderate  priced  manual  of  the  Unionidae  yet  available. 
The  best  of  our  cheap  publications  on  shells  of  all  kinds  is 
the  valuable  work  on  Structural  and  Systematic  Conchology, 
recently  published  by  George  AY.  Tryon,  Jr.,  of  Philadelphia. 

In  collecting  land  shells  a  small  wooden  rake  with  an 
adjustable  handle  is  useful,  and  I  have  used  a  block  with 
a  few  nails  in  it.  A  deep  skimmer,  or  a  perforated  basin 
with  a  long  handle,  is  best  for  water  species.  Cleanse  the 
outside  of  the  shell  in  a  pail  of  water  with  sharp  sand,  or 
with  a  tooth  brush,  and  extract  the  animal.  Hot  water 
may  be  used  for  this.  Some  small  species  are  better  pre- 
pared in  alcohol.  Oxalic  acid  is  often  used,  but  carefullyr 
for  removing  iron  stains. 

Large  shells  may  be  placed  in  paper  boxes  ;  smaller  spe- 
cies may  be  mounted  on  card-board,  one  end  being  turned 
up  sufficiently  for  the  name  and  locality.  All  should  be 
arranged  in  drawers. 

The  spring  and  fall  are  the  best  seasons  for  collecting 
most  shells,  as  fewer  immature  specimens  then  occur,  and 


12 

many  then  congregate  on  land  under  pieces  of  wood.  Some, 
however,  may  be  taken  at  almost  any  time  The  land 
snails  having  teeth  and  thickened  lips  at  their  apertures, 
do  not  gain  these  generally  until  almost  mature,  and  before 
this  may  prove  perplexing.  When  canals,  creeks  or  mill- 
races  are  drawn  off,  some  species  may  be  obtained  which 
are  otherwise  inaccessible.  Fresh  water  mussels  are  best 
obtained  by  wading,  or  from  a  boat,  but  some  of  the  rarer 
species  will  even  then  escape  notice,  so  that  dead  shells  may 
prove  of  value  when  better  ones  cannot  be  obtained.  A 
judicious  rubbing  with  vinegar  will  fairly  restore  the  lus- 
trous nacre 

Occasionally  sea-shells  and  others  are  found  far  inland. 
Mr.  E.  P.  Howe  recently  found  a  number  of  specimens  of 
Littorina  litorea  in  the  canal  east  of  Syracuse,  and  I  have 
an  uncommon  New  England  sea-shell  which  was  gathered 
with  others  at  Cross  Lake,  having  been  dropped  there. 

Limestone  regions  generally  produce  the  thickest  shells, 
and  the  water  and  bottom  make  a  great  difference  in  water 
species.  At  Kirkville  the  shells  in  the  Erie  canal  are  much 
handsomer  than  elsewhere  in  the  county  ;  and  in  Cross  and 
Onondaga  lakes  most  Unios  have  a  brown  epidermis,  while 
other  shells  are  light  in  color. 

One  interesting  question  is  that  of  the  occurrence  of  fra- 
gile shells  deep  down  in  gravel,  sand  and  clay.  Such  in- 
stances are  often  seen  when  banks  are  cut  away.  Mr.  E.  B. 
Knapp  has  a  number  of  shells  taken  from  the  Skaneateles 
cemetery  in  digging  graves;  among  them  one  species  not, 
I  think,  now  found  in  that  town.  A  full  explanation  would 
take  time,  but  in  some  instances  the  change  in  the  beds  of 
streams,  the  filling  in  of  hollows,  and  the  snails'  practice  of 
following  and  feeding  upon  decaying  roots,  give  a  sufficient 
answer.  It  is  a  subject  worthy  of  further  study.  All 
snails  feed  by  use  of  jaws  and  sharp  teeth.  Our  local  bi- 
valves have  two  siphons  which  draw  in  and  throw  out  cur- 
rents of  water,  retaining  the  solid  nutriment,  and  also  act- 
ing like  the  gills  of  a  tish. 

The  preceding  list  covers  over  ten  years'  workv  so  that 
there  will  probably  be  very  few  additions,  though  some 
may  be  expected.  I  have  searched  the  county  from  the 
highest  hill-tops,  over  2,000  feet  above  the  sea,  to  the  bot- 
toms of  many  waters,  and  give  the  present  results  of  my 
knowledge. 


ivi90520    Qif/r 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  UBRARY 


